Mike Jenkins (strongman)

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Mike Jenkins

| image =Mike Jenkins 2011.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Jenkins at the 2011 World's Strongest Man

| birth_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1982|11|03}}

| birth_place = Westminster, Maryland, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2013|11|28|1982|11|03}}

| death_place = Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, U.S.

| nationality = American

| years active = 2007–2013

| height = {{height|cm=198}}

| weight = {{convert|182|kg|lb}}

|sport = Strongman competitions

| spouse = {{marriage|Keri Jenkins
|2012}}{{cite web |title=Who Is Keri Shaw?|url=https://celebsuburb.com/who-is-keri-shaw-insight-into-the-life-of-brian-shaws-wife/|access-date=12 April 2022|work=Celebsuburb.com|date=28 October 2020}}

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{CompetitionRecordCountry | the {{USA}} }}

{{CompetitionRecordCompetition|Arnold Pro Strongman World Series}}

}}

Mike Jenkins (November 3, 1982 – November 28, 2013) was an American professional strongman competitor from Westminster, Maryland.[http://www.arnoldstrongmanclassic.com/competitors.html#jenkins_full The Arnold Strongman Classic] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160822043556/http://www.arnoldstrongmanclassic.com/competitors.html |date=August 22, 2016 }}. The Arnold Strongman Classic. Retrieved on October 3, 2013. During his short pro career, Jenkins competed at the highest level of the sport. In 2012, Jenkins won the Arnold Strongman Classic, regarded as one of the most prestigious competitions in strongman.

Jenkins died at age 31 after only three years of pro-level competition.

Early life

Jenkins was a precocious athlete, reportedly weighing 225 pounds, squatting 400 pounds, and benching 315 pounds in sixth grade.https://www.roguefitness.com/theindex/article/mike-jenkins-1982-2013-the-life-and-death-of-a-strongman-iron-game-history-august-2014?srsltid=AfmBOoohk-TYj5MkDFzWcRlHw-Pe97cbWK5ithEH81cZWvJgzCKGdLt5 He played college football, first at Kent State and later at James Madison University, where he was a starting offensive lineman for their 2004 FCS national championship.

After college, Jenkins briefly played for the arena football team the Georgia Force. After leaving football and throughout his strongman career, Jenkin worked as a high school athletics director at Milton Hershey School in Hershey, PA.

Jenkins began pursuing strongman as he felt "aimless" without participating in sports.https://www.roguefitness.com/theindex/article/mike-jenkins-1982-2013-the-life-and-death-of-a-strongman-iron-game-history-august-2014?srsltid=AfmBOoohk-TYj5MkDFzWcRlHw-Pe97cbWK5ithEH81cZWvJgzCKGdLt5 His first competition was Maryland's Strongest Man contest in 2007. He won, qualifying him for the North American amateur national strongman championships later that year. There, he placed sixth against a field of approximately 100 competitors. He placed second in the North American nationals in 2009.

Strongman Career

Jenkins competed in the inaugural Arnold Amateur Strongman World Championships in 2010 and won that contest. This victory earned him his pro strongman card, as well as an invitation to the 2011 Arnold Strongman Classic. He competed in the 2010 America's Strongest Man later in the year and placed second behind 3-time champion Derek Poundstone.[http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2010/Sep/Derek_Poundstone_Wins_Americaxs_Strongest_Man.html Derek Poundstone Wins America’s Strongest Man] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929021053/http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2010/Sep/Derek_Poundstone_Wins_Americaxs_Strongest_Man.html |date=September 29, 2010 }}. Ironmind.com (September 26, 2010). Retrieved on October 3, 2013.

He entered the 2011 Arnold Strongman Classic placing second overall ahead of the reigning World's Strongest Man, Zydrunas Savickas. [http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2011/Mar/Brian_Shaw_Wins_Arnold_Strongman_Mike_Jenkins_Is_Second.html Brian Shaw Wins Arnold Strongman, Mike Jenkins is Second]. Ironmind.com (March 6, 2011). Retrieved on October 3, 2013. Later that year, he qualified for the finals of the 2011 World's Strongest Man contest, where he won the first two events but ultimately finished in eighth place overall after withdrawing after suffering a back injury.

Jenkins won the 2012 Arnold Strongman Classic, finishing ahead of former champions Derek Poundstone, Zydrunas Savickas and Brian Shaw,[http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2012/Mar/Mike_Jenkins_Wins_the_Arnold_Strongman.html Mike Jenkins Wins the Arnold Strongman]. Ironmind.com (March 4, 2012). Retrieved on October 3, 2013. and won the Giants Live event in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia on March 17, 2012, which qualified him for the 2012 World's Strongest Man contest later in the year.[http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Articles/2012/Mar/Mike_Jenkins_Wins_Giants_Live-FitX_Melbourne_2012.html Mike Jenkins Wins Giants Live–FitX Melbourne 2012]. Ironmind.com (March 19, 2012). Retrieved on October 3, 2013. He set a joint world record in the hip lift event with Nick Best with a lift of {{convert|1,150|kg|lb}}. In the 2012 World's Strongest Man contest, Jenkins again reached the finals and finished in fifth place.{{Cite web |title=Strongman Archives - 2012 WSM Final |url=https://strongmanarchives.com/viewContest.php?id=125 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=strongmanarchives.com}}

His final professional strongman competition was the 2013 World's Strongest Man contest, where he finished in fourth overall in the finals.{{Cite web |title=Strongman Archives - 2013 WSM Final |url=https://strongmanarchives.com/viewContest.php?id=118 |access-date=2024-11-23 |website=strongmanarchives.com}}

Mike Jenkins died on November 28, 2013, aged 31, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania from an enlarged heart, suspected to be caused by long-term steroid use.{{cite news|title=Strongman Mike Jenkins ist tot|url=http://www.bodybuilding-magazin.de/bodybuilding-artikel/strongman-mike-jenkins-ist-tot/46888.htm|language=German|accessdate=November 29, 2013|newspaper=BodyXtreme|date=November 28, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.local21news.com/sports/features/local-sports/stories/strongman-jenkins-31-dies-659.shtml |title=Strongman Mike Jenkins, 31, dies – WHP CBS 21 Harrisburg – Local Sports |publisher=Local21news.com |date= |accessdate=November 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201130820/http://www.local21news.com/sports/features/local-sports/stories/strongman-jenkins-31-dies-659.shtml |archive-date=December 1, 2013 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.strongman.org/news/mike-jenkins-dies-age-31/ Mike Jenkins dies age 31] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530150832/http://www.strongman.org/news/mike-jenkins-dies-age-31 |date=May 30, 2015 }}. Strongman.org. Retrieved on July 11, 2017.

Personal records

Deadlift (on Stiff bar at a 1-inch deficit) – {{convert|400|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} (2013 World's Strongest Man)
Hummer Tire Deadlift – {{convert|423|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} (2011 Arnold Strongman Classic)
Hip lift – {{convert|1,150|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} (2012 Giants Live FitX Melbourne) (joint-world record){{cite web|url=https://strengthrecord.com/strongman-world-records/#S9 |title=STRENGTH RECORD, Section 09 - Hip lifts & Back carries |website=www.strengthrecord.com |access-date=11 April 2025}}
Log press – {{convert|210|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} (2012 World's Strongest Man) (Former American Record)
Log press/ Austrian Oak (for reps) – {{convert|200|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} x 2 reps (2012 Arnold Strongman Classic)
Circus Dumbbell press (for reps) – {{convert|116|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} x 7 reps (2012 Arnold Strongman Classic) (former world record)
Manhood Stone (Max Atlas Stone) for reps – {{convert|243|kg|lb|abbr=on|0|}} x 2 reps over 4 ft bar (2011 Arnold Strongman Classic)

References

Category:1982 births

Category:2013 deaths

Category:People from Westminster, Maryland

Category:American strength athletes